U.S. patent number 6,846,851 [Application Number 10/413,475] was granted by the patent office on 2005-01-25 for water-based inkjet inks containing an ultraviolet curable humectant.
Invention is credited to Moshe Frenkel, Ilan Hidana, Gregory Nakhmanovich.
United States Patent |
6,846,851 |
Nakhmanovich , et
al. |
January 25, 2005 |
Water-based inkjet inks containing an ultraviolet curable
humectant
Abstract
A composition for ink-jet recording is provided. The composition
comprises a water miscible resin and a water-soluble ultraviolet
curable humectant. The concentration of the water-soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant may be in the range of 5% to 50% by
weight. Examples of such humectants may include polyalkylen glycol
acrylates, polyethers acrylates, and highly ethoxylated derivatives
of acrylates.
Inventors: |
Nakhmanovich; Gregory (Netanya,
IL), Hidana; Ilan (Kadima 60920, IL),
Frenkel; Moshe (Jerusalem 93507, IL) |
Family
ID: |
32908301 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/413,475 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
522/84; 522/104;
522/107; 522/113; 522/120; 522/121; 522/182; 522/71; 522/74;
522/75; 522/81; 522/85; 522/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09D
11/101 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C09D
11/10 (20060101); C08F 002/46 (); C08F
002/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;522/71,74,75,81,104,107,113,121,120,182,84,85,86 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Other References
Hiromichi Noguchi et al., "An Aqueous UV Curable Inkjet Printing
for Graphic Output", NIP 17: International Conference on Digital
Printing Technologies, pp. 332-335. .
Patent Abstracts of Japan. vol. 2000, No. 24, May 11, 2001 & JP
2001 181528 A (Sekisui Chem Co Ltd), Jul. 3, 2001..
|
Primary Examiner: Seidleck; James J.
Assistant Examiner: McClendon; Sanza L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eitan, Pearl, Latzer & Cohen
Zedek, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An ink composition for ink-jet recording comprising: water; a
water miscible resin; and a water soluble ultraviolet curable
humectant.
2. The ink composition of claim 1 further comprising: a water
miscible photoinitiator.
3. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a dye as a
coloring agent.
4. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a pigment as a
coloring agent.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said miscible resin is an
acrylic resin, a styrene acrylic resin, a carboxylated acrylic
resin a polyurethane resin, a polyacetate resin, a polyvinyl
chloride resin or any combination thereof.
6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said miscible resin is a
water dispersible ultraviolet curable resin.
7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said water dispersible
ultraviolet curable resin is an aliphatic urethane acrylate, an
aromatic urethane acrylate, an epoxy acrylate, a polyester acrylate
or any combination thereof.
8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is a polyalkylene glycol
acrylate.
9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is a polyether acrylate.
10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is a highly ethoxylated derivative of
acrylate.
11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is polyethylene glycol
diacrylate.
12. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is polyether triacrylate.
13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water soluble
ultraviolet curable humectant is ethoxylated trimethylololpropane
triacrylate.
14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said
water soluble ultraviolet curable humectant is 5-15% by weight.
15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said
water soluble ultraviolet curable humectant is 15-30% by
weight.
16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said
water soluble ultraviolet curable humectant is 30-50% by
weight.
17. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water miscible
photoinitiator is a water dispersible photoinitiator.
18. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water miscible
photoinitiator is a water soluble photoinitiator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inkjet printing industry may use oil-based inks, solvent-based
inks, water-based inks and solid inks. When industrial water-based
inks, containing binders, are jetted from the nozzles, water
partially or fully evaporates from the ink such that the remaining
binder together with pigment particles produce a film in the
nozzles, thus leading to irreversible clogging of the nozzles.
Using humectants in the ink formulation may reduce or eliminate
nozzle clogging. However, humectants significantly reduce the
drying rate of the printed image. This problem becomes more
critical for higher printing speeds, for a non-porous substrate and
for a substrate that is sensitive to high temperatures. Moreover,
during the drying process the humectants, which are volatile
organic compounds (VOC), emit vapors and therefore pollute the
environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary
skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
methods, procedures, formulation and compositions have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to various
compositions of a water-based ink-jet recording fluid containing an
ultraviolet (UV) curable humectant. According to some embodiments
of the present invention, the ink composition comprises water as
the main carrier, a water miscible resin as the binder substance,
and one or more water-soluble UV-curable humectants. Throughout the
specification and the claims, the term "miscible" refers to either
a water-soluble or a water-dispersible component.
The relative amounts of the different components of the ink-jet
recording fluid may vary. For example, the relative amount of the
water-soluble UV-curable humectant may vary between 5 weight
percentage and 50 weight percentage.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
relative amount of water-soluble UV curable humectant may be 5 wt
%-10 wt %. According to some embodiments of the present invention,
the relative amount of water-soluble UV-curable humectant may be 10
wt %-15 wt %. According to some embodiments of the present
invention, the relative amount of water-soluble UV-curable
humectant may be 15 wt %-20 wt %. According to some embodiments of
the present invention, the relative amount of water-soluble
UV-curable humectant may be 20 wt %-25 wt %. According to some
embodiments of the present invention, the relative amount of
water-soluble UV-curable humectant may be 25 wt %-30 wt %.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
relative amount of water-soluble UV-curable humectant may be 30 wt
%-35 wt %. According to some embodiments of the present invention,
the relative amount of water-soluble UV-curable humectant may be 35
wt %-50 wt %.
The composition may further comprise a photo-initiator, any
coloring agent, such as for example pigment and/or dye, and
optionally surfactants such as wetting agents, leveling agents and
the like. Additionally, the composition may comprise additives,
such as for example preservatives, anti-molds and the like to
enhance storage and shelf stability.
Ink compositions according to some embodiments of the present
invention may reduce the drying time of the printed image as
compared to a similar composition having non-curable humectants.
The ink composition may possess good adhesion properties. It may
adhere to a wide range of substrates including absorbing materials
such as paper and cardboards and non-absorbing materials such as
plastics, glass and metals. Moreover, inks according to some
embodiments of the present invention may prevent nozzle clogging
and mis-directionality problems even after long periods of
continuous printing. Also, according to some embodiments of the
present invention, the ink composition virtually does not contain
volatile organic compounds.
Resins
Any suitable binder resin may be used. Although the scope of
present invention is not limited in this respect, the binder resin
may be a water dispersible resin, a water-soluble resin, a
water-dispersible UV-curable resin and any combination thereof.
Non-limiting examples of water-dispersible resins may include
water-based emulsions of polymers, such as, for example,
polyacrylates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyvinylchlorides and
polyacetates. Additional non-limiting examples of water dispersible
resins may include emulsions of copolymers, such as for example
polyacrylate-polystyrene and polyacrylate-polyurethane. The
emulsions may be stabilized either ionically or non-ionically.
Non-limiting examples of water-soluble resins may include
alkaline-soluble polyacrylate and polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
Non-limiting examples of water-dispersible UV-curable resins may
include resin-in-water emulsions of a UV-curable compound having at
least two reactive unsaturated groups such as acrylic groups.
Non-limiting examples of such UV-curable resins may include
aliphatic or aromatic urethane actylates, epoxy acrylates and
polyester acrylates.
Humectants
The term "radiation curable humectants" may include any
water-soluble monomer, oligomer or polymer having one or more
UV-curable unsaturated groups and having a boiling point generally
above 170.degree. C. Non-limiting examples of such humectants may
include polyalkylen glycol acrylates, polyethers acrylates, and
highly ethoxylated derivatives of acrylates.
A specific example of such materials may include polyethylene
glycol diacrylates available commercially from Sartomer Company,
Exton, Pa., USA, under the names Sartomer 344 and Sartomer 610 or
from UCB Chemicals, Drogenbos, Belguim, under the name Ebecryl 11.
Another non-limiting example is polyether triacrylate available
commercially from from UCD Chemicals, Drogenbos, Belguim under the
name Ebecryl 12. Yet another example may be highly ethoxylated
derivatives of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and bisphenol A
diacrylate available commercially from Sartomer Company under the
names SR 415, SR 9035 and CD 9038.
Photoinitiators
The photoinitiators may comprise one or more water-soluble or water
dispersible free radical photoinitiators. Non-limiting examples of
photoinitiators may include Irgacure 2959, Irgacure 500, Irgacure
819W, Darocur 1173, Darocur 4665, Darocur 1664, Darocur 4043,
Darocur 4263, and Darocur 4265, all available from Ciba-Geigy,
Basel, Switzerland.
EXAMPLES
In the following examples of ink compositions, component
designations are in weight percentages. Furthermore, all the
examples are prepared in a similar manner to example 1, which
preparation is described in more detail below. It is noted that the
following examples do not limit in any way the scope of the present
invention.
Example 1
Weight % Ingredient 9 Acrylic polymer emulsion, sold under the
trade name of Joncryl 538 by S.C Johnson. Emulsion of a non curable
resin 20 Polyether triacrylate, sold under the trade name of
Ebecryl 12 by UCB Chemicals. UV-curable humectant 3
1-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropane- 1-one, sold
under the trade name of Irgacure 2959 by Ciba-Geigy. Photoinitiator
6 Rubin pigment sold under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by
Clariant GmbH 0.3 BYK-345 wetting agent balance de-ionized
water
The inkjet ink composition of Example 1 was prepared in the
following mixing order: starting with Ebecryl 12; adding
photoinitiator and mixing at 100.degree. C. until it dissolves;
adding de-ionized water; adding Joncryl 538; adding pigment
dispersion of Hostafine rubin F6B; adding BYK 345 as surfactant or
wetting agent and continuing mixing for approximately half an
hour.
Example 1 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising a
non-curable resin emulsion and a UV-curable humectant. The ink was
applied (18 .mu.m thickness) on various substrates such as
cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was first heated at
90.degree. C. for 30 seconds to evaporate water. The heating was
followed by UV radiation to cure the rest of the film. A flash
Xenon discharge lamp (450 torr, available from Heraeus Noblelight,
Cambridge, UK) has been used at a frequency of 50 Hertz, energy of
39 joules/pulse and for 180 pulses.
The composition described above has been jetted from a print head
manufactured by Aprion Ltd. of Netanya, Israel and jetting
properties were tested. No clogging of print-head nozzles has been
observed. No mis-directionality problems have been detected even
after long periods of continuous printing.
Example 2
Weight % Ingredient 9 Ammonia solution of an acrylic resin, sold
under the trade name of Joncryl SCX 8078 by S.C Johnson. Solution
of a non curable resin 40 Polyether triacrylate, sold under the
trade name of Ebecryl 12 by UCB Chemicals. UV-curable humectant 3
1-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropane- 1-one, sold
under the trade name of Irgacure 2959 by Ciba-Geigy. Photoinitiator
6 Rubin pigment sold under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by
Clariant GmbH 0.3 BYK-345 wetting agent balance de-ionized
water
The inkjet ink composition of example 2 was prepared in the
following mixing order: starting with Ebecryl 12; adding
photoinitiator and mixing at 100.degree. C.; adding de-ionized
water; adding Joncryl SCX 8078; adding pigment dispersion of
Hostafine rubin F6B; adding BYK 345 as surfactant or wetting agent
and continuing mixing for approximately half an hour.
Example 2 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising a
non-curable resin solution and a UV-curable humectant. The ink was
applied (18 .mu.m thickness) on various substrates such as
cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was first heated at
90.degree. C. for 30 seconds to evaporate water. The heating was
followed by UV radiation to cure the rest of the film. A flash
Xenon discharge lamp (450 torr, available from Heraeus Noblelight,
UK) has been used at a frequency of 50 Hertz, energy of 39
joules/pulse and for 180 pulses.
The composition described above has been jetted from a print head
manufactured by Aprion Ltd. of Netanya, Israel and jetting
properties were tested. No clogging of print-head nozzles has been
observed. No mis-directionality problems have been detected even
after long periods of continuous printing.
Example 3
Weight % Ingredient 40 Acrylic functional polyurethane dispersion,
sold under the trade name of NeoRad R-441 by NeoResins (Avecia).
Emulsion of a UV-curable resin 30 Polyethylene glycol 400
diacrylate, sold under the trade name of Sartomer 344 by Cray
Valley. UV-curable humectant 3 1-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)
phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropane- 1-one, sold under the trade name
of Irgacure 2959 by Ciba-Geigy. Photoinitiator 6 Rubin pigment sold
under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by Clariant GmbH 0.3
BYK-345 wetting agent balance de-ionized water
The inkjet ink composition of example 3 was prepared in the
following mixing order: starting with Sartomer 344; adding
photoinitiator and mixing at 100.degree. C. until it dissolves;
adding de-ionized water; adding Neorad R-441; adding pigment
dispersion of Hostafine rubin F6B; adding BYK 345 as surfactant or
wetting agent; and continuing mixing for approximately half an
hour.
Example 3 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising an
UV-curable oil-in water resin emulsion and a UV-curable humectant.
The ink was applied (40 .mu.m thickness) on various substrates such
as cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was heated at 90.degree.
C. for 10 seconds to evaporate the water. Then the ink was
irradiated by UV radiation to cure the rest of the film. A flash
Xenon discharge lamp (450 torr, available from Herause, UK) has
been used at a frequency of 50 Hertz, energy of 39 joules/pulse and
for 180 pulses. The cured film has shown good mechanical properties
on various substrates such as cardboards and PVC plastics.
The composition described above has been jetted from a print head
manufactured by Aprion Ltd. of Netanya, Israel and jetting
properties were tested. No clogging of print-head nozzles has been
observed. No mis-directionality problems have been detected even
after long periods of continuous printing.
Example 4
Weight % Ingredient 40 Aliphatic urethane acrylate emulsion, sold
under the trade name of Viactin VTE 6155w by Solutia Inc. Emulsion
of a UV-curable resin 10 Polyethylene glycol 400 diacrylate, sold
under the trade name of Sartomer 344 by Cray Valley. UV-curable
humectant 2 Bland of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine
oxide and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (50:50 mixture),
sold under the trade name of Darocur 4265 by Ciba-Geigy.
Photoinitiator 6 Rubin pigment sold under the trade name of
Hostafine Rubin F6B by Clariant GmbH 0.3 BYK-345 wetting agent
balance de-ionized water
The inkjet ink composition listed above was prepared in the
following mixing order: starting with Sartomer 344; adding
de-ionized water; adding emulsion of Viactin VTE 6155w; adding
photoinitiator; adding pigment dispersion of Hostafine rubin F6B;
adding BYK 345 as surfactant or wetting agent and continuing mixing
for approximately half an hour.
Example 4 demonstrates another example of a water-based ink
composition comprising a UV-curable oil-in water resin emulsion and
a reactive UV-curable humectant. The ink was applied (40 .mu.m
thickness) on various substrates such as cardboards, PVC and
plastics. The ink was first heated at 90.degree. C. for 10 seconds
to evaporate the water. Then the ink was irradiated by UV radiation
to cure the rest of the film. A flash Xenon discharge lamp (450
torr, available from Herause Noblelight, UK) has been used at a
frequency of 50 Hertz, energy of 39 joules/pulse and for 180
pulses.
The cured film has shown good adhesion properties on various
non-swellable substrates such as polycarbonate, polyehtylene and
polypropylene. The composition described above has been jetted from
a print head manufactured by Aprion Ltd. of Netanya, Israel and
jetting properties were tested. No clogging of print-head nozzles
has been observed. No mis-directionality problems have been
detected ever after long periods of continuous printing.
Example 5
Weight % Ingredient 9 Acrylic polymer emulsion, sold under the
under name of Joncryl 538 by S.C Johnson. Emulsion of a non-curable
resin 20 Glycerol. A non-curable humectant 6 Rubin pigment sold
under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by Clariant GmbH 0.3
BYK-345 wetting agent balance de-ionized water
Example 5 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising a
non-curable resin emulsion and a conventional water-soluble
humectant as a reference to example 1.
The ink was applied (18 .mu.m thickness) on various substrates such
as cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was heated at 90.degree.
C. for 360 seconds to evaporate the water. In comparison, as
described above in relation to Example 1, the time required to
fully evaporate the water for an equivalent film thickness of the
composition described in example 1 was 30 seconds followed by UV
curing of approximately 3.5 seconds.
Example 6
Weight % Ingredient 20 Polyether triacrylate, sold under the trade
name of Ebecryl 12 by UCB Chemicals. UV-curable humectant 3
1-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropane- 1-one, sold
under the trade name of Irgacure 2959 by Ciba-Geigy. Photoinitiator
6 Rubin pigment sold under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by
Clariant GmbH 0.3 BYK-345 surfactant or wetting agent balance
de-ionized water
Example 6 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising a
UV-curable water-soluble humectant with no binder as a reference to
example 1. The ink was applied (18 .mu.m thickness) on various
substrates such as cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was heated
at 90.degree. C. (to evaporate the water) for 30 seconds followed
by UV radiation (to cure the rest of the film). In comparison to
Example 1, the mechanical properties of the films obtained by the
ink composition of example 6, such as abrasion resistance and water
sensitivity demonstrated poor results, particularly on non-porous
substrates such as PVC plastics and polycarbonates.
Example 7
Weight % Ingredient 40 Aliphatic urethane acrylate emulsion, sold
under the trade name of Viactin VTE 6155w by Solutia Inc. Emulsion
of a UV-curable resin 2 Bland of
2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide and
2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (50:50 mixture), sold
under the trade name of Darocur 4265 by Ciba-Geigy. Photoinitiator
6 Rubin pigment sold under the trade name of Hostafine Rubin F6B by
Clariant GmbH 0.3 BYK-345 surfactant or wetting agent balance
de-ionized water
Example 7 demonstrates a water-based ink composition comprising a
UV-curable resin emulsion without any humectant as a reference to
example 4.
The ink was applied (18 .mu.m thickness) on various substrates such
as cardboards, PVC and plastics. The ink was heated at 90.degree.
C. (to evaporate the water) for 30 seconds followed by UV radiation
(to cure the rest of the film).
The composition described above has been jetted from a print head
manufactured by Aprion Ltd. of Netanya, Israel and jetting
properties were tested. Clogging of the print head nozzles and
mis-directionality problems have been demonstrated as soon as
jetting started.
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and
described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and
equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art.
It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within
the true spirit of the invention.
* * * * *